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Former world no. 14 Kyle Edmund is trying hard to make a comeback and play his best tennis again. The 28-year-old Briton has been dealing with knee issues for years, failing to fulfill his potential and chase notable titles. Kyle is 0-7 on the ATP level this year, using a protected ranking to enter the top-tier events but barely winning a couple of sets.
Kyle is back on the Futures level, starting from the bottom and hoping for an injury-free run in the upcoming years. Edmund had his best season in 2018, reaching the Australian Open semi-final and earning his career-best victory in Madrid.
The Briton faced a two-time champion Novak Djokovic in the second round in Caja Magica and scored a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 victory in an hour and 42 minutes. After missing the second part of 2017 due to an elbow injury, Djokovic was yet to find his A-game.
The Serb played well against Kei Nishikori in the first round before falling to the 23-year-old, experiencing his sixth loss from 12 matches in 2018.
Kyle Edmund defeated Novak Djokovic in Madrid 2018.
Kyle saved four out of seven break points, all three in the deciding set.
Novak found his rhythm after losing the opening set. However, those break points he wasted in the decider cost him a lot when Kyle broke him at love in game nine. The Briton seized four out of five break points, sealing the deal and moving into the Masters 1000 third round for the first time.
Edmund won just two points more than Djokovic after being sidelined in the second set. We have to give him credit for improving his backhand in the final set and returning from 40-0 down on serve in game five, gaining the confidence that carried him through the rest of the match.
The Briton hurled a forehand winner to kick off the action with a break. Novak got it back in the following game after Kyle's forehand error. Serving from the sunnier side of the court, Novak hit a double fault to lose serve and fall 3-2 down.
Edmund easily held the next two service games to move 5-3 ahead before breaking Djokovic for the third time in the ninth game and securing the opener in style. Novak raised his level in set number two, taking advantage in the rallies and pushing Kyle's backhand to the limits.
The Serb lost just five points in his games. He broke his rival in games one and seven for a commanding 6-2 after a service winner in the eighth game. The returners won just one point in the opening four games of the final set, and the decisive moment came at 2-2 when Kyle found himself 40-0 down on serve.
He saved the first two with service winners, and Novak wasted the last one with a backhand error, which would prove very costly. Serving at 3-4, Djokovic sprayed a forehand error to lose his serve, allowing Edmund to serve for the victory.
Interestingly, Novak did not lose a point on serve before that game. Also, he got broken despite landing in every first serve. Cold as ice, Kyle blasted four winners in the ninth game to celebrate a huge win and earn his career-best Masters 1000 result.